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Rape of Nanking
During the Sino-Japanese War, the capitol of China (Nanking), fell under Japanese control, causing the Chinese government to flee. Because Japan wanted to end the streak of Chinese resistance, General Matsui Lwane ordered the city of Nanking to be destroyed. In the midst of the chaos, Japanese troops committed a series of foul deeds to the civilians, including killing war prisoners, civilians, and raping many women and girls. After the war, Matsui was found guilty of war crimes and was executed. -
Period: to
1937-1945
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German Blitzkrieg
Blitzkrieg, or "lightning war" is a military tactic used by the Germans in which disorganization among enemy forces is created through use of firepower. Germany first experimented with this tactic in Poland in 1939, and then went on to use it successfully in Belgium, the Netherlands, and France in 1940. Through this, Germany was able to have control of a lot of Europe, and have many victories for more than two years of world war 2. -
Pearl Harbor
The US had been getting increasingly unhappy with Japan's aggressive attitude towards China, so they set in place trade and economic restrictions in hopes that their decreased access to goods would heed their expansion. Although war between Japan and the US had been long predicted, this essentially pushed Japan over the edge. They launched their attack on pearl harbor through use of bombs and missiles. Despite Japan's plan to completely cripple the US Pacific fleet, the US navy responded quickly -
Operation Barbarossa
Hitler sent million soldiers tanks into Russia. The Russians were taken by surprise as they had signed a treaty with Germany in 1939. Stalin immediately signed a mutual assistance treaty with Britain and launched an Eastern front battle. The USA, which had been supplying arms to Britain under a ‘Lend-Lease’ agreement, offered similar aid to USSR. -
Wannsee Conference
On this day Nazi officials sat down to discuss the solution to the "Jewish Question". The reason for this meeting was that Hitler had ordered a plan to be made as soon as possible to solve this "issue".
Many ideas were thrown around such as, mass deportation to Madagascar, working them to death in concentration camps, but these proved to be flawed. Months later they decided the best way was to use gas vans. This led to the death of millions of jewish people during the holocaust. -
Battle of Midway
The USA defeated the Japanese navy at the Battle of Midway. After this victory, the US navy was able to push the Japanese back. -
Bataan Death March
After the April 9, 1942, U.S. surrender of the Bataan Peninsula on the main Philippine island of Luzon to the Japanese during World War 2, the approximately 75,000 Filipino and American troops on Bataan were forced to make an arduous 65-mile march to prison camps. They were treated terribly. -
D-Day (Normandy Invasion)
On D-Day thousands of American and Canadian troops landed on the the coast of France's Normandy region, an area that had been heavily fortified with german forces. Although the Germans didn't know the exact location along France's coast (due to the deception put in place by the allies) that would be invaded, they still fortified a 2400 mile long area along the beach. After about a month, France had been liberated. The Normandy Invasion is considered the beginning of the end of war in Europe. -
VE Day
On VE-Day, both Great Britain and United states celebrate victory on Europe day when the Nazis were defeated. The 8th of May was the day German forces surrendered to the soviets. Although they attempted elude the grasp of Soviet forces, over 2 million german prisoners were taken. VE-DAy marked the day that the germans were finally defeated. -
VJ-Day
On August 14th Japan had officially unconditionally surrendered. After about 8 years of fighting World War 2 had finally come to an end. On VJ-Day the victory of the Allies is Celebrated. -
Potsdam Declaration
Ultimatum issued by the United States, Great Britain, and China on July 26, 1945, calling for the unconditional surrender of Japan. The declaration was made at the Potsdam Conference near the end of World War II. -
Battle of the Bulge
In 1944 the Germans attempted to split Allied forces through the Ardennes to Antwerp. The allies were caught off guard by this which led to them fight desperately. As the Germans advanced, the allies took on the appearance of a large bulge, a pivotal arrangement that was vital to allied defense. Despite numerous casualties, Allied troops were able to neutralize the German counteroffensive. The Battle of the Bulge brought about the end of the German army and Nazi reign. -
The Battle of Iwo Jima
The American Invasion of Iwo Jima was a result of the need for a base near Japan. The Japanese forces in Iwo Jima were stationed in an elaborate system of tunnels and dugouts, concentrated inland despite their prior tactic of fortifying the beaches. After about a month of fighting, the American Marines were able to emerge victorious in this war. This Victory proved to have a very important tactical importance in the fact that it showed how far Japan would go to defend their country. -
Dropping of the atomic bombs
Because Japan refused to surrender without conditions, and another US invasion of the Japanese mainland would likely result in a great loss of life, US president Harry Truman made the decision to use an atomic bomb to end the war. On August 6th, the "Little Boy" (the name of the bomb) was dropped from Enola Gay (the name of the war plane) on Hiroshima Japan. Thousands of people were killed as a result of the blast, in addition to thousands of others who died later from affects of the fallout. -
Liberation of Concentration Camps
As Allied troops moved across Europe they encountered concentration camps, some still filled with living prisoners. At end of the war, the Soviets had liberated Auschwitz, the largest prison camp that was used. Although many of the warehouses had been destroyed to remove evidence, the ones remaining were discovered to contain all the belongings the Jewish people taken prisoner by the Nazis.
